Midseason report cards

A'S: Offseason pickups are a bust, but young pitchers are cause for optimism

Before last season, A's general manager Billy Beane made it clear that the team was going into the shop for an overhaul, and the process might take three years or more. Then, last winter, Beane prettied up the picture, scooping one of the biggest names available on the trade market - Matt Holliday - and signing three notable free agents in Jason Giambi, Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra.

The new players did not speed up the process. Oakland has its first losing season at the break in a decade, and the team looks as if it will spend the second half trying to avoid finishing with the league's worst record.

In terms of a rebuild, however, the A's have some positive developments, especially when it comes to their young rotation and All-Star closer Andrew Bailey. The second half will be all about making sure the kids continue to make progress. Those are the grades that will matter.

OFFENSE

P.U.! The four new players were supposed to improve Oakland's AL-worst attack. Instead, the team is right back at or near the bottom of most offensive categories. Billy Beane wanted to add some bats so the young pitchers wouldn't have the pressure of close games every time out, but that's exactly what's happening. GRADE: F

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 11: Matt Holliday #5 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Minnesota Twins during a Major League Baseball game on June 11, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 11: Matt Holliday #5 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Minnesota Twins during a Major League Baseball game on June 11, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by ... more

Photo: Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Photo: Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

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OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 11: Matt Holliday #5 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Minnesota Twins during a Major League Baseball game on June 11, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 11: Matt Holliday #5 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Minnesota Twins during a Major League Baseball game on June 11, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by ... more

Photo: Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Midseason report cards

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STARTERS

Considering that the A's lost top starter Justin Duchscherer to elbow surgery before the season started and one of their better rookies, Josh Outman, to season-ending Tommy John surgery in June, Oakland's rotation is pretty darn good. Dallas Braden has performed consistently well despite a laughable lack of support, and the five rookies who have made starts, including Outman, all appear to have bright futures. GRADE: B

RELIEVERS

Another area where the club lost a prominent contributor before the season's start: Closer Joey Devine had Tommy John surgery in April. Eventually, Andrew Bailey emerged to secure the role, and Michael Wuertz has proven reliable despite a wearying workload. Others have had their ups and downs, but overall, the A's can look at this bunch with pride. It's an area of strength in the minors, too. GRADE: B

DEFENSE

What do you know? Injuries also affected this category, especially losing Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez for the season with back trouble and second baseman Mark Ellis for two months with a calf injury. Jack Cust isn't a plus when he is in the outfield, and Cabrera, usually one of the top shortstops in baseball, had a rough stretch in the field. Kurt Suzuki is turning into a top-notch catcher, however. GRADE: C-

MANAGER AND COACHES

Beane told The Chronicle that manager Bob Geren's job is safe, arguing that multiple injuries and youngsters make it tough even to begin to evaluate a manager. With the team lolling in last place, however, there is some restlessness among the fan base about the job Geren is doing, while pointed comments from former players about the higher energy levels on their new teams raised some eyebrows. Pitching coach Curt Young gets an A, but overall for this category ... GRADE: C

BENCH

If Nomar Garciaparra were healthy, he'd be an ideal man off the bench, because he can still hit and he can play third and first. His limited availability is problematic, though. Bobby Crosby is improving at all the infield spots, Rajai Davis provides nice speed and some defense, and Landon Powell should see more playing time at catcher in the second half. GRADE: C+

-- See the A's report card on B5

TEAM MVP: Kurt Suzuki. In his second full season, Suzuki has been among Oakland's most consistent hitters, batting a team-high .293, and he has done a terrific job shepherding the many young pitchers.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Andrew Bailey. He lost his job in Double-A Midland's rotation last summer; now he's an All-Star. Runner-up: Adam Kennedy. Who'd have thought he'd be playing third for the A's?

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Matt Holliday. While Jason Giambi's inability to get on track has many wondering about his career, Holliday's subpar numbers are startling because he is in his prime. His trade value, expected to be sky high, has dropped.

Five keys to the second half

1. Survive the first 28 days after the break. The A's are playing the longest consecutive stretch in franchise history, and they don't start easy, opening with New York and Boston.

2. Figure out what to do with Holliday. With the club going nowhere in mid-July and needing help on the left side in coming years, spinning him for a top young shortstop or third baseman would make sense.

3. Continued improvement from the starters. This season is all about the young pitching, and the second half will be about making adjustments and taking care with the overall number of innings.

4. More rest for Suzuki. He's never going to ask for any days off, but there's no need to wear out one of the team's brightest young position players.

5. Start adding in more top prospects. If the A's are out of it (and they're close to that point) give Travis Buck and Daric Barton another whirl. Bring up Sean Doolittle when he's healthy and maybe Adrian Cardenas and anyone else close to ready. The future is now.